Jesse (J) Eernstman

The aim of our research is to culture erythrocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) with specific blood group genotypes, to reduce donor dependency and prevent allo-immunisation. To establish human iPS we transduce erythroblasts with a polycistronic lentiviral vector expressing Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4. The transduced cells were transferred to a MEF feeder culture and iPS medium. Embryoid bodies can be generated for which the iPS cells were transferred to uncoated plates in medium supplemented with BMP4, VEGF, SCF, TPO, IL-6, IL-3, insulin, and cholesterol rich lipids. After 14 days embryoid bodies generated from erythroblast-derived iPS contained blood islands that were visible because of the presence of red cells. The next challenge is the large scale expansion of iPS-derived erythroblasts and subsequent maturation to hemoglobinised, enucleated red blood cells.

Technology

Flow Cytometry

Cell Culturing

Transfection

Transduction

Cloning

qPCR

Western Blotting

Mass-spec

HPLC

Resume

2013-present

PhD student at the Dept of Hematopoiesis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam